10 Ways to Increase Home Value with Exterior Paint

1. You Can Color-Correct for Value

An effective use of color on the exterior of your home can add thousands of dollars to its value, says James Martin, who has been hired by landlords and real estate developers to increase the market value of their properties or improve occupancy rates in their buildings with eye-catching color schemes.

2. Perception of Color is Very Relative

For instance, if you put a mid-value color, such as tan, next to pure white, it will look beige. But if you put it next to dark green, it will look off-white. Keep this in mind when choosing colors -- main and trim. And when you are choosing a color from a fan deck at the paint store, you should mask off the colors next to it with a white sheet of paper.

3. Begin With the Value

Design your color scheme first according to value. That is, decide whether you want a dark, medium, or light main color.

Content continues below ad

4. Highlight Detail Carefully

Create a balanced effect between the top and bottom of your home. For instance, if there is a lot of detail on the top of your home, you will need to create detail and interest on the bottom.

5. Don't Be Top-Heavy

Put darker colors toward the bottom of the house to avoid creating an "uncomfortable, top-heavy feel," says Martin. In this photo you can see how adding deep-hued shrubs allows more illumination toward the top of the house.

6. Choose Colors in the Right Light

Pick colors outside in natural light on a cloudy day or in open shade. Bright light creates glare and can distort your perception of the color.

Content continues below ad

7. Be Material-Minded

Make sure the paint colors you choose complement the colors of the other materials of your home, such as the roof, brick, stone, or stucco.

8. Brighten Things Up

Paint window sashes and overhead surfaces, such as porch ceilings and soffits, a lighter color to reflect light and "lift the spirit of your home."

9. Go Warm, Not Cool

Use warm colors as opposed to cool. For instance, use a warm yellow-white as opposed to a cool blue-white.

Content continues below ad

10. Play Up the Size

Use light colors to make a small house look bigger, and dark colors to make a large house that is squeezed onto a small lot look smaller.